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Uncovering the Iraq War

September 10, 2007

by
findingDulcinea Staff

March 20, 2003 was the start of the ongoing United States military operation in Iraq. In the four-plus years since, the complexities of the situation can overwhelm anyone in search of greater understanding. How can we learn about what is really going on, how this conflict affects Iraq, America and others, and what can we do to help the individuals involved? This week we examine the resources––and the world of information, discussion, and debate––the Web has to offer on the Iraq conflict.

Build perspective with a background on Iraq from Arab Gateway, a site that traces the country back to the civilizations of Ancient Mesopotamia in 5000 BCE. Work your way forward through the useful timelines and overviews of peoples inhabiting the region now known as Iraq. Arab Gateway has many useful links, taken from university sites and other specialty sites concerning Arab history. Scroll down to the "Ottoman Period" to learn about a crucial period in Iraq's history, 1534-1918, linking informatino from the Library of Congress.

Iraq's country profile, courtesy of the BBC News site, gives an array of information besides straight-up headlines and analysis. You'll learn statistics about the country as well as get a background on the social and political situation, including what's happening now.

The BBC News also ran a special report on the aftermath of Saddam Hussein's death, which explains the varied reactions of the Iraqi people and the international community, and sheds light on some of the latest developments, including the February execution of two of Hussein's top aides, his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti, who served as Hussein's head of secret police, and Awad Hamad al-Bandar, who had been a powerful judge under Hussein's rule. Both men were convicted of killing 148 Shias in the mid-1980s.

It's the most complex aspect of Iraq's history and current conflict: the ongoing battle between the Sunnis and Shias, who make up the two main branches of Islam. Though the two groups share many basic beliefs, they are "often in competition," as the BBC explains. The Shias have long seen themselves as oppressed and underrepresented, making up only about 1 in 10 people in the Muslim community. Many of the crimes Hussein was accused of involved the murder of Shias over a decades-long period. Learn more history about the two groups with this quick guide.

Some grimmer aspects of the war are the statistics. Though they don't put a face on the war, the statistics tell us something about the scope of this event. Iraq Body Count is the most well known of these sites, with an "incident-by-incident" online database.